Gear-shifting mechanism.



E.E.GR'AY.1 A GEAR smrrme MECHANISM.

Patented Mar.

3 SHEETS-S APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. 1 914.

HEET 1.

1 E. E. GRAY.

GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM. APPk-ICATION HLED APR. 6. 1914. 1,175,145.Patented Mar. 14,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED cmn snir'rmqMEC ANISM;

' 7 Application filed April 6, 1

as used in connection .wi'thmotorvehiclesg;

although, of course, 1t may have a mor a dbymeans ofduct" eralapplication. v The principal object of the 1I1Vel'lil1OI11 to provide animprovedform of gearsh ft ng mechanism operated by fluid'pressure, asset'forth inmy co-pending 'application S'erial No. 7 08,7 61, filed inthe United States; Patent Ofiice 'on July '11, 1912, with ;.a':new formof operating valve therefor.

A further object of the inventionisto imk prove the mechanism, as wellas. the'lvalve,' by means simplified, theoperation of the same is.rendered easier and its certainty in working isincreased.

A further object of theinvention isto provide means rendering itpossible to give the whole mechanism a compact construction and. shouldthe fluid pressure medium fail to act, to change the gears by hand.

For the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful improvements,' as will appear, the invention consists in thefeatures of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement ofthe several parts generally shown in the accompanying drawings anddescribed in the specification, but more particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation, parts being-shown insection, of the general arrangement of the shifting mechanism; Fig. 2 isa sectional view showing the cylinder and valve connection; Fig. 3 is'aside view on a larger scale of the combined control and inlet valve;Fig; 1 is a planvview of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section online 6-6 of Fig.3. and Fig. 6 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

A special feature of the invention consists in the formation of thecontrolling mechanism and the control valve by means of which it ispossible that on moving the control valve body in one direction, theinlet Specification of Letters Patent.

d fected.

Referring now nallymovable bore 4 for apiston 5 and"w ith an op'eningforming communicat a tween control 12, rendering possible the exha'ustoftheexpanded pressure; imdiilni' from the cylinder -4, at both endsthereof. with anenlargeinent 13 and abearing porof which ,the' shiftingdevice is p spring STATES PAT-Em r ml nnwsnnn. GRAY, or static, rumors.

I Patented Mar. 14,- 1916. 914.. Serial 10.829359. l

- valve is opened and closed effect the admission of fluid-underpressure to the control cylinder, whereas,fon the return of the controlvalve body theinlet, valve'is not ef-' o moreyparticularly. to thedrawings, a valvecasingl is formed'witha cylindrical bore'2 forcontaining alongitudi valve spindle '3,"acylindrical 35' 6; for theinlet valve 7, which: openingfi is 1 i in communication *with the'ivalve' g'spindle bore 2'. Y The controlv l connect and back cylinderends ft'her' provided discharg 'vali'rehore2 and ac'ommondischar'geiduct The-spindle 3 is provided at end 1 tion .14 11ponvvhich isdisposed ayspiral 15 tending'to press a shoulder 16 of 35 attached tothe front-end? of the spindle, against thevalve casing andto thus holdthecontrol valve in its normal position.

That portion of the spindle between the bearing portion 14 and the nut35 isformed with circular grooves 17, 17", 17,17, andv 17 of variouswidths'whereby disks 18?, 18",

18, 18, and 18 are formed, which fit accurately into the valve spindlebore 2. Circular grooves are so arranged'and their width is such thatthe corresponding disks of the control valve spindle 3 efiect an openingand closing of the ducts 8 and 9 leading to the. front and rear cylinderends, and also the engagement of a bell crank 19 pivotally mounted inthe opening6. The inlet valve 7 is provided with a member 20 slidable ina perforation through the stem thereof and having. a head 30 at theinner end adapted to 'be engaged by one extremity 2701- the bell crank19, the other extremity 26 "of which is adapted to be engaged by thedisks of the control valve 3. This bell crank 19 is pivotally mounted inan elongated hole 21 on. a pin 22 in the opening'6, and toit.isconnected 2. spring 23 which tends to pull thebell crankso thattheextremity 27 engages the head 30 of the member 2'0 and so that the otherextremity 26 is in position to be engaged by] any one ofthe disks on thecontrol valve 3.

so i

to be held in engagement by a clutch spring 25", so that the forwardH1OVBIIl6Ilt:.Of the clutch pedal first releases the clutch then whenthe lost motion connection is taken up moves the control valve spindle 4forwardly by means of the rod 24.

The gear selecting and operating mechanism comprises a rotatableselecting spindle 28 connected. by means of rods 29, 30, pinion 31,segment 32 and rod 33 with. an indicating arm 34 movable over a segment35. A piston sleeve36 extends from the bore 4 through the front of thecasing 1 where a control plate 37 is secured which is splined to thespindle 28. This control plate 37 is provided with a recess 38 in whichis mounted a dog 39 pressed outwardly by a spring 40. The control plate37 is provided with an outer ring 41 which forms an annular groove 42into which,-upon the failure of the fluid pressure device, a lever orthe like can be inserted in order to change the gear by hand.

Arranged peripherally with respect to the control plate 37 are gearshifting rods 43, 44, and. opposite the rods 43 are stub shafts adaptedto be connected therewith by pinions 46. Each of the rods 43, 44 and thestub shafts 45 are formed with a shoulder 47 adapted to be engaged bythe plate 37 and with a groo e 48 in front of the shoulder adapted to beengaged by the dog 39. In front of the groove 48 of the rods 43 and 44is a depression 49 substantially the length of stroke of the piston 5 sothat even if the piston and the control plate 37 is at the forward endof its stroke the dog 39 may be freely rotated "by means of the spindle38 without engaging any of the rods 43 or 44. Upon the rearward movementof the control plate 37 the dog 39 will ride upon an inclined surface 50on one'of the rods or upon an inclined surface 51 at the end of one ofthe stub shafts 45. This construction is for the purpose of permittingthe rotation of the spindle 28 even though one of the rods 43 or 44 hasbeen moved into position for changingthe gear ratio.

Connected to the inlet valve 7 by means of a pipe 52 is a fluid pressurereservoir 53. A hand valve 54 may be inserted in the pipe for manuallycontrolling the fluid under pressure from the reservoir and forpreventing the escape of fluid under pressure from the reservoir.

In operation the pedal 25 is moved downwardly. and, as before explained,after the clutch is disengaged the lost motion connection with the rod24 is takenup, the control valve spindle 23 is moved forwardly until theduct 8 is connected by means of the groove 17 with the opening 6. Theforward movement of the spindle engages the ridge 18 with theprojecting. extremity 26 of the bell crank 19, moving it about its pivot22 to open the valve 7 against the pressure of the valve spring. Thisaction admits fluid under pressure through the duct 8 "to the forwardend of the cylindrical bore 4 thereby causing the piston 5 to be movedrearwardly, carrying with it the plate. .37, which, in its rearwardmovement, engages the shoulders 47 of all of the control rods, returningany and all of them to neutral posi tion. At this time the rear end ofthe cylindrical bore 4 is connected by means of the duct 9 and thecylindrical groove 17 ofthe valve spindlewith the discharge ducts. 11.

and 12 thereby; opening the rear, ofthe cylindrical bore to exhaust. Itwill be noted that the ridge or disk 18 is comparatively- 12, openingthe forward end of the cylin-.

drical bore to exhaust.

the cylindrical bore by means of the duct 9 and the groove 17 with theopening 6 so that as thebell crank rides on the-ridge 18 the valve 7will be opened, admitting air tothe rear end of the cylindrical bore andforcing the piston forwardly, atwhich time.

the dog 39 actually'engages any one of the selected rods 43, 44 or thestub shafts 45.

Upon raising the foot from the pedal 25 the clutch spring 25' operatesto return the-- pedal to its normal position, whereupon the valvespindle 3 is also returned by means of the spring-15. Upon the rearwardmove ment of the valve spindle the engagement of the "arious disks orridges with the extremity 26 of the bell crank will produce no effectupon the valve 7 for the reason thatthe bell crank 19 will be pressed.inwardly against the tension of its spring 23 because of the elongatedhole 21 by means of which it is pivoted. It is obvious, therefore, thatthe changes in the connection .of the cylindrical bore 4 with the sourceof pressure supply are effected entirely upon the forward movement ofthe valve spindle and that the rearward movement thereof has no effectupon the valve. The selection of any gear for operation may be made atany time by means of the arm 34 or other equivalent mechanism even whenthe mechanism is connected with another gear in actual operation, theshifting of the gears being effected.

The continued movement of Communication is also made at this time withthe rear end of .ber for operating the by first returning all of thegear changing members to neutral position, as 111513 82 plained, andthen by eflecting the desired movement of the member for moving theselected gear.

What I claim is:

1. Gear shifting mechanism compr s ng change speed gears shiftable intodriv ng engagement, fluid pressure means for sh fting the gearscomprising a bodily movable control valve member, and an operatingmember therefor having a lost motion connection.

2. In gear shifting mechanism compr sing change speed gears,thecombination of a fluid pressure device for shifting-the gears, and acontrol valve for the device comprising a movable valve member foroperatively actuating the device in only one direction of movement.

3. Gear shifting mechanism comprising change speed gears, a fluidpressure device for shifting the gears, and a control valve for thedevice comprising a valve member for actuating the device in onedirection of movement and ineflective in the other direction ofmovement.

4. In gear shifting mechanism, the combination with change speed gears,of a fluid pressure device for changing the gears, an inlet valve forthe device, and a control valve comprising a longitudinally movablemember, and means member for operating the inlet valve. I

5. The combination with gear shifting mechanism comprising change speedgears, of a single fluid pressure device for actuating the same, aninlet valve and a control valve forming communication between the inletvalve and the fluid pressure device having a longitudinally movablemember adapted to make connection between the inlet valve and the devicein one direction of movement, and means actuated by the meminlet valvein one only of said member. gear shifting mechanism, a control valvetherefor comprising a longitudinally movable valve spindle, an inletvalve, ducts communicating with the fluid pressure device, and a memberactuated by the movement of the spindle in one direction for opening theinlet valve ineflective in the other direction of movement of thespindle to operate the inlet valve.

7. In fluid pressure gear shifting mechanism, an operating valvecomprising a casing with a cylindrical bore, a grooved spindlelongitudinally movable therein, an inlet valve communicating with thebore, ducts forming communication between the bore and the fluidpressure device, means to move the spindle longitudinally, and a. memberhaving an elongated slot by which it is direction of movement 61 Influid pressure contacting with the pivoted adapted to engage the spindleand the inlet valve for opening the latter when the spindle is moved inone direction and for moving rearwardly in the slot when the spindle ismoved in the other direction.

8. In fluid pressure gear shifting mechanism, the combination with afluid pressure device comprising a member with cylindrical bores, apiston movable in one of the bores, a grooved spindle movable in theother bore, ducts connecting the spindle bore with the ends of the otherbore, a fluid pressure inlet communicating with the spindle bore, andmeans for moving the spindle in one direction whereby the grooves willfirst admit fluid under pressure from the inlet to one end of thecylinder bore and then to the other end of thecylinder bore while thespindle is moving in a single direction.

9. Fluid pressure gear nism comprising a memb cylindrical bores, one ofwhich is connected at both ends with the other, and the other of whichis provided with discharge ports and with an inlet opening, of a spindlemovshifting mecha-- er formed with 7 able in the said other bore havinggrooves therein and ridges which fit in the bore, and means for movingthe. spindle whereby in one direction of movement communication is madefirst between-the inlet-and one end of the cylindrical bore while theother end is open to exhaust, and bythe continued movement of thespindle in the same direction the first named end of the cylindricalbore is open to exhaust and.the other end to fluid pressure from theinlet-opening.

10. Fluid pressure gear bores, one of which isconnected at both endswith the other, and the other shifting mechanism comprising a memberformed with cylindrical m of which is provided with discharge ports andwith an vinlet opening, 'of a spindle movable in the said other borehaving grooves therein and ridges which fit in the bore, and means.member.

11. The combination with a fluid pressure gear shifting mechanismcomprising a controlling valve therefor having a longitudinally movablevalve control member, of change speed gears adapted to be placed indiflt'erent driving engagements by the fluid pressure device, drivingmeans for the change speed gears embodying a releasable clutch andaspring therefor, a pedal to control the operation of the clutch, andmeans comprising lost motion connection for connecting the pedal to thevalve control member whereby the movement of the pedal in one directionwill release the clutch and then operate the valve control member.

12. In fluid pressure gear shifting mechanism, fluid pressure controlmeans comprising a cylindrical valve chamber with fluid pressure ducts,discharge ducts, an inlet opening communicating therewith, a valvespindle having peripheral grooves therein forming ridges between themand fitting the bore closely, an inlet valve communicating with theinlet opening, a bell crank having a slot and pivotally mounted therebyin the inlet opening with one end adapted to engage the ridges of thespindle and the other end adapted to engage the valve for opening itwhen the other end is engaged by the spindle in one direction ofmovement, means for moving the spindle in one directionwhereby'communication is made from the inlet opening first with. one ofthe'fluid pressure ducts and then with the other at which time the inletvalve is opened by the bell crank at the same time making connectionbetween the correspondingly opposite fluid pressure opening and thedischarge opening, and means to withdrawthe valve spindle in the otherdirection when the said moving means is released.

13. In fluid pressure gear shifting mechanism, fluid pressure controlmeans comprising'a member with a control valve bore having inlet anddischarge ducts and an inlet opening communicating therewith, alongitudinally movable valve spindle formed with peripheral grooves"forming ridges thereon of different Widths, the grooves being adapted tomake connection in succession between the inlet opening and one of theinlet ducts and then the other when the spindle is moved in onedirection and between the other inlet opening and the discharge openingand then between the first named inlet opening and the discharge openingin sue cession and oppositely when ,the spindle is moved in onedirection, an inlet valve communicating with the inlet opening 'andhaving a projecting stem, a bell crank with a slotted hole by'means ofwhich it is pivoted, one end of the bell crank contacting with the inletvalve stem, the otherextremity being adapted to be engaged by the ridgesof the valve spindle. for moving the bell crank to engage and open theinlet valve when the i spindle is moved in one direction, the slotpermitting the bell crank to ride over the ridges when the spindle ismoved in the other direction, a spring tending to draw the bell crank toone end of its slot and to hold one extremity in position to be engagedby the ridges of the spindle with the other end in engagement with thevalve stem, means to move the valve spindle in the forward or operatingdirection.- and a spring to move the valve spindle in the oppositedirection.

14. In combination, gear shifting mecha nism comprising change speedgears, means for shifting some of the-gears comprising rods movable inboth directions having engage-able shoulders and notches, fluid pressuremeans comprising a member with bores,

one forming a power cylinder and the other: forming a valve chamber, thesaid member on said gears in the other direction of movement selectingmeans for rotating the tongue to engage any one of the bars at any time,a valve spindle formed with grooves and movable in the valvechamber, thegrooves being adapted to form commu nication from theinlet opening tothe front end of the cylinder and from the rearend of the cylinder toexhaust when moved in one direction and in another position when movedin the same direction to form communication from the forward end ofthe-cylinder to exhaust and from the inlet opening to the rear end ofthe cylinder, an inlet valve disposed in the inlet opening, a bell crankpivotally mounted in the opening through a slotted perforation havingone extremity adapted to engage the inlet valve and the other extremityto engage the ridges of the control spindle, the slot being so disposed.

that the movement of the spindle in one direction will raise the inletvalve and in the other direction of movement of the spindle the bellcrank will ride over the projections, a spring tending to press the bellcrank in engagement with the spindle, another spring tending to hold thespindle at one endof its stroke, means for driving the change speedgears comprising a releasable clutch and a.

clutch spring, a pedal adapted to release the clutch upon the forwardmovement thereof, and a rod connected to the valve spindle having a lostmotion connection with the pedal whereby the movement of the pedal firstreleases the clutch then moves the valve.

to return the gear shift bars to neutral by tlie action of the piston inthe cylinder, and then. by the continued movement of the pedal in thesame direction moves the pistonforwardly in engagement with thepreviously selected rod.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 18th day of March A.111914.

EDIVARD E. GRAY.

Witnesses:

KENT WV. WVoNNnLL, CHARLES H. SEEM.

spring pressed

